Teen admits causing fireball

An Invercargill teenager has admitted throwing petrol on a fire causing a fireball which left a man with permanent scarring.

Timothy John Shand, 18, yesterday pleaded guilty in Invercargill District Court to one charge of reckless disregard for the safety of others, the Southland Times reported.

Shand admitted throwing petrol on to a fire in a metal drum at a party on June 4.

A fireball erupted, striking three people, including 17-year-old Demitri Tapu.

Mr Tapu was set on fire from the waist up and was placed in an induced coma at Dunedin Hospital with serious injuries.

He was likely to be left with permanent scarring.

The other two people escaped unscathed.

Shand was remanded on bail for sentence on October 21.

- NZPA